Is it possible to spare the milk ducts when repairing inverted nipples? Is nipple piercing a solution?

Question

Looking for inverted nipple repair (roughly stage 2/3) that will save milk ducts near Raleigh NC

Ira H. Rex III, MD · Answer

It is these ducts that are creating the inversion. It is likely that if you do anything that doesn't actually cut the ducts, you would have a high rate of failure. By far the easiest approach is to consider this surgery only after you are done with childbirth or you do not intend to breast-feed.

Justin West, MD · Answer

Hi and thank you for the question. Piercing nipples is certainly less aggressive than the surgical techniques we use to correct inverted nipples. That being said, some of the ducts can get damaged from the piercing, and excessive scar tissue formation could further block the ducts. If you can't wait until after breastfeeding then I think piercing would be a reasonable option. Otherwise it might make more sense to just wait until after having children if breastfeeding is a high priority for you. Best of luck.
Dr West

Sutton Graham II, MD · Answer

There are procedures that have been described that attempt to accomplish what you ask -- improve nipple inversion while preserving the ability to breast feed in the future.  The impression of experienced surgeons indicated to me that these procedures are much less likely to give satisfactory nipple projection, so in our practice we recommend waiting until breast feeding is no longer a consideration before correction of inverted nipples.  I do not have experience with piercing as treatment for nipple inversion.  Hope this helps your decision.

Is it possible to spare the milk ducts when repairing inverted nipples? Is nipple piercing a solution?

Answers (3)

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